For the next generation...

On January 24, 2022, Cyclone Ana hit Malawi, bringing heavy rain and causing flooding that washed away houses and destroyed crops. Cyclone Ana was followed closely by a series of tropical storms that resulted in further destruction. Meet Felesta Reji. She is a widow, a mother, and a grandmother. Felesta tragically lost one of her three sons before the flooding and was left to care for his three orphaned children. Prior to Cyclone Ana, Felesta lived with the three children in the village of Kambuzi on a compound she shared with her two surviving sons and their families. Felesta owned her own home and farmed her own plot of land. She planted and harvested maize and millet every season and also had some banana trees.

“I lived well,” she says proudly, “and was able to provide food for my whole family. I could sell some of my produce for household necessities and buy seed for future plantings.”

Cyclone Ana and the subsequent hurricanes changed all this for Felesta and her orphaned grandchildren. The river rose to dangerous levels from the accompanying rains. The ensuing flood waters swept away her home, all of their belongings, and destroyed all of her crops. “We were sleeping, and around 10:00 pm the rushing waters came. The water was up to my waist and I could only manage to escape with my grandchildren.”

The remains of Felesta’s home after the flood waters subsided

Like many other families who lost their homes in the flood, Felesta sought refuge at Chapomoka camp, where she found shelter in a school for herself and the children. They had no food or belongings except for the clothing they wore when they arrived.

World Renew has partnered with Eagles to provide three monthly food distributions to the displaced families in the Chapomoka camp. The first distribution of food baskets was in April. Felesta feels very blessed to have received the maize flour, beans, cooking oil, and salt. After over three months in the camp, she has since been able to move back to her village. As her home was completely washed away, she and her grandchildren now live with one of her sons and his family. His home is just a kilometer away from Chapomoka camp, so the walk back to the camp for the May and June food distributions is a short one for Felesta.

Felesta with her son and two of her grandchildren.

“We are so thankful to World Renew for giving us this food,” she says, smiling. “We had nothing to eat and this helps us survive until we can farm again.”

Felesta has already started to do odd jobs for others: harvesting millet crops for extra food and income. She hopes to make enough money, to buy seed, a few banana trees, and farm implements–and to eventually rebuild her home.

“I am happy to work hard harvesting millet. I want to farm my own land to provide for my family.” She has these same hopes and dreams for her family. “I want my children and grandchildren to work hard, too, because God will bless their hard work and be with them. My faith remains strong,” Felesta states. “I pray, always, that God will continue to bless me and my family and bless you, as well. I am grateful for this food; it will keep me strong until I am again able to return to farming.”

Felesta’s story is a shining example of courage and faith—a true testament that our God is a faithful God, even in adversity.